"It's just not true": Palmer denies alias claim

EMBATTLED Member for Fairfax Clive Palmer has denied running Queensland Nickel as a shadow director under the alias "Terry Smith".

In his first public appearance since reports surfaced that the federal MP had used a Yahoo email account to run the failing company, Mr Palmer claimed the reports were "just not true".

"I'm not willing to discuss that today," Mr Palmer said.

A University of Queensland law professor told the Daily this morning if Mr Palmer is found to have operated as a "shadow director" he could be liable for the company's debts.

But Mr Palmer denied the media reports, and claimed he'd been out of the private business world for three years.

Clive Palmer denies using alias to run Queensland Nickel:
Federal Member for Fairfax speaks at the Palmwoods Memorial Hall on Australia day 2016.

"You never want to believe what you read in the media.

"I'm in an industry that's creating jobs for journalists, but actually, not much of it's true.

"If you take a publication like the Australian, they're wonderful for fish and chips but not too good for news."

Mr Palmer also shirked responsibility for the 237 jobs lost as a result of QNI going into voluntary administration last week, claiming the Queensland government should be doing more to support the families of sacked workers.

"I have no personal responsibility," he said.

"I'm retired from business three years ago and of course, the 22,000 (other) workers that were sacked in Queensland and lost their jobs, none of those companies put up a cent.

"The Queensland Government is responsible for those communities and doesn't support them."

Reader poll

Would you vote for Clive Palmer in the next federal election?

This poll ended on 02 February 2016.

Current Results

Yes. He's the best option outside the major parties.

12%

No. What has he done for us this time around?

81%

I don't live in Fairfax but I wish I did.

5%

This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.

Mr Palmer also committed to running in the seat of Fairfax at the next federal election, despite recent polls showing he would receive only 2% of the vote.

"Of course I am (committed)," he said.

"I'm always in Fairfax. You can't be everywhere but you've got to do the best you can.